Arrangement for positioning heavy tubular members relative to a drilling mast

ABSTRACT

A pair of spaced members extends laterally from a drilling mast in a generally horizontal plane and is provided with surfaces for receiving roller means thereon. A first carriage extends laterally between the members and is suspended from the spaced members by roller means mounted on the first carriage and engaged with the spaced members. Power means are provided for moving the first carriage along the spaced members, toward, and away from the drilling mast. A second carriage is supported on and depends from the first carriage means by roller means and power means are connected with the roller means for rotating the second carriage longitudinally of the first carriage means. The second carriage extends from the first carriage towards the drilling mast and is provided with a hoist for engaging tubular members to move them into the drilling mast or to stack the tubular members in a vertical position adjacent the drilling mast.

United States Patent Branham Mar. 12, 1974 ARRANGEMENT FOR POSITIONING HEAVY TUBULAR MEMBERS RELATIVE TO A DRILLING MAST [57] ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Donald R. Branham, Houston, Tex.

A pair of spaced members extends laterally from a g Pyramid Derrick & Equipment drilling mast in a generally horizontal plane and is pro- 'P-a Houston vided with surfaces for receiving roller means thereon. [22] Filed: July 17, 1972 A first carriage extends laterally between the members and is suspended from the spaced members by roller PP 272,339 means mounted on the first carriage and engaged with the spaced members. Power means are provided for 52 US. 01. 214/2.5, 212/74 "Wing the first carriage g? Spaced members 51 1111. C1 E2lb 19/04 3 away from dnllmg A Second 58 1 Field of Search 214/25, 38 CA; 212/10, Carnage SuPPmed and depends the first 212/11, 15, 19, 73 74 carriage means by roller means and power means are connected with the roller means for rotating the sec- [56] Reference-S Cited orlild carriag: longitudinally of tlge firsthcartriage means. T e secon carriage exten 5 rom t e irst carriage UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 towards the drilling mast and isprovided with a hoist 5 2 for engaging tubular members to move them into the 3,006,486 10/1961 Cook et al. 212/73 x fi m f i z mimbers m a 2,644,593 7/1953 Miller 212/11 a lace e n mg i 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures a 26 Q L'J- f L PATENTEU MR 12 I914 sum 2 or 2 ARRANGEMENT FOR POSITIONING HEAVY TUBULAR MEMBERS RELATIVE TO A DRILLING MAST SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Various devices have been proposed for moving tubular members such as drill pipe, tubing, and easing from a pipe rack into a drilling mast, or for removing the tubular members from the drilling mast and onto a pipe rack adjacent the mast. In some situations, it is desirable to use relatively heavy tubular members during drilling operations, and the problem of manipulating such heavy tubular members into position in the mast or away from the mast onto a pipe rack becomes somewhat difficult.

The present invention provides an. arrangement for vertically stacking heavy tubular members employed in drilling and well completion operations which is relatively simple in construction and can be operated from the drillers platform.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for positioning heavy tubular members in a drilling mast during drilling operations and to position the tubular members adjacent the drilling mast when other operations are underway at the location, such arrangement including a pair of spaced members secured at an elevated position in the drilling mast and having surfaces thereon forming track means. A first carriage is suspended between the spaced members by means of rollers engaging the track means and mounted on the first carriage means. Power means are mounted on the first carriage means to rotate the roller means along the track means so that the first carriage means can be moved toward and away from the drilling mast.

The first carriage means provide a second track means for receiving rollers mounted on a second carriage and suspended from the first carriage means and extending towards the drilling mast. Power means are mounted on the second carriage means for moving the second carriage means along said second track means longitudinallyof said first carriage mans, and a hoist is mounted on the end of said second carriage means nearest the drilling mast for engaging tubular members so that by movement of the first and second carriage means, tubular members may be positioned in the drilling mast or a tubular member in the drilling mast mast be engaged-and removed therefrom to a position adjacent the drilling mast.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a drilling mast showing the present invention positioned thereon with a pipe rack and vertically extending tubular members in the pipe rack to be engaged by the present invention for movement into the drilling mast;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view on the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of FIG. 3 showing the details of supporting the first-and second carriage means on the spaced members extending laterally from the drilling mast.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional drilling mast is represented by the numeral and is shown as having the present invention referred to generally by the numeral positioned thereon. A pipe rack arrangement 16 extends below the present invention and from the drilling mast in the same direction as the present invention 15 for supporting the tubular members represented at 17 in a vertical position adjacent the drilling mast 10.

In FIG. 2, a pair of spaced members is illustrated at 18 and 19 with suitable bracing depending from the mast as illustrated at 20 for supporting the spaced members 18 and 19 ina generally horizontally, laterally extending relationship relative to the mast 10. They are secured at one end to the drilling mast 10 by any suitable means. Suitable bracing 21 extends between the members 18 and 19, and a lateral end member 22 is provided adjacent their outer ends.

A first carriage means represented by the numeral 23 extends between the members 18 and 19 and is movable along the members 18 and 19 as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. A second carriage means referred to generally by the numeral 24 depends from the first carriage means 23 and is movable longitudinally thereof as will be described.

The forward end 25 of the second carriage means 24 projects towards the drilling mast, and its forward end 25 is provided with a power hoist 26 as more clearly seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The members 18 and 19, as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, may be of any suitable form, and as illustrated, are of I beam configuration providing surfaces 30 thereon which form track means for receiving the first roller means 31 on the first carriage means 23.

The first carriage means 23 includes a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending members 32 and 33 which is provided with surfaces 34 forming a second track means for a purpose as will be described hereinafter. The roller means 31 of the first carriage means 23 are carried by the vertical braces 35 which in turn are secured at their lower edges to the spaced members 32 and 33 of the first carriage means 23 in any suitable manner such as by welding or by bolts. The rollers 31 are rotatably supported in the vertical braces 35, and at least a pair of the rollers 31 is provided with sprocket means 36 so that all of the roller means 31 may be moved along the track means formed by the surfaces 30.

'It will be noted that, as better seen in FIG. 3, at least one pair of the rollers 31 is positioned so as to engage the upper portion of the members 18 and 19 while the other roller means 31 engages the lower track means to inhibit canting or skewing of the first carriage means 23 as it moves along the spaced members 18 and 19 toward and away from the drilling mast.

As better seen in FIG. 2, shaft means 38 extends longitudinally of the first carriage means 23 and is rotatably supported in the first carriage means 23 by suitable bearing blocks 39 (FIG. 3) at spaced intervals therealong. First power means 40 are mounted on the first carriage means 23, such power means being of any suitable form such as an electrical or air motor, and a sprocket 41 is provided on the output shaft thereof, which in turn is aligned with a sprocket 42 on the rotatable shaft 38. Suitable means such as a chain 43 or the like extend between the sprockets 41 and 42 so that rotation of the motor 40 imparts rotation to the shaft 38.

Additional sprocket means 44 are mounted on the rotatable shaft 38 adjacent each end thereof which in turn is aligned with sprocket 45 carried on rotatable shaft 46. The shaft 46 extends beneath the vertical braces 35 at each end of the first carriage 23 and is carried in suitable bearing blocks 47. The shaft 46 is provided with spaced sprockets 48 for engaging with sprockets 36 connected to a pair of wheels 31 on each side of each of the members 18 and 19 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Suitable means such as a chain 50 connects sprocket 44 on shaft 48 and sprocket 45 on shaft 46 so that when the shaft 38 is rotated, rotation is imparted to the shaft 45 and the pair of rollers 31 which have sprockets 36 engaged with sprockets 48 on shaft 45 move the first carriage 23 either toward the drilling mast or away from it along the members 18 and 19.

The second carriage means 24 is provided with a second motor means 51 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which has suitable means such as a sprocket 52 on its output shaft which connects through the chain 53 to the sprocket 54 on the rotatable shaft 55 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second carriage means 24. The shaft 43 is rotatably supported in the second carriage by suitable bearing blocks in a manner as previously described with regard to the first carriage means 23. The sprocket 56 connects through suitable means such as chain 57 (FIG. 4) with spaced sprockets 58 carried on rotatable shaft 59 in suitable bearing blocks as illustrated. The spaced sprockets 58 engage sprockets mounted on a pair of rollers 60 in the second carriage means 24 to impart rotation thereto. The arrangement of wheels 60 in the second carriage means 24 is similar to that shown and described with regard to first carriage means 23. Also, it will be noted that some of the roller means 60 in the second carriage means 24 engage the bottom of the track means 34 of members 32 and 33, while some of the roller means 61 engage the top of the track means to again inhibit skewing of the second carriage means as it moves longitudinally of the first carriage means, as better seen in FIG. 3.

The first and second motor means may be of any suitable type, as noted, and may be reversible so that movement of the first carriage means towards and away from the drilling mast 10 may be effected, and similarly movement of the second carriage means 24 longitudinally in either direction of the first carriage means may be effected.

It will be noted that the second carriage means 24 projects towards the drilling mast 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings and is provided with a hoist 26 at its forward end provided with a power source 26a for raising and lowering of the chain or cable 65 and connected hook 66 for engagement with a tubular member.

When one of the members 17 is to be engaged and moved from the pipe rack 16 into the drilling mast 10, the first carriage means 23 and second carriage means 24 are properly positioned relative to such tubular member whereupon the hoist 26 is actuated to lower the hook 66 to engage the tubular member in a manner 6 lar member therein for connection into the tubular string supported within the drilling mast. In some situations, the weight of each tubular member to be hoisted towards and away from the drilling mast 10 may equal or exceed a total weight of 8,500 pounds. In some circumstances, it can be appreciated that it is extremely difficult to manipulate and maneuver such tubular member either into position in the drilling mast or after disconnection from a tubular string in the driling mast to maneuver such tubular member into a pipe rack 16 such as that illustrated in the drawings. By means of the present invention and the relationship of the first and second carriage means, such movement may be readily and easily accomplished.

Suitable air lines if the power means on the hoist and the first and second carriage means are air motors or electrical conductors, if they are electric motors, as represented at 70 may extend from each power source along a leg of the drilling mast 10 to a position adjacent the drillers working platform so that manipulation of the hoist as well as the first and second carriage means may be easily effected. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to position a man in the derrick in an elevated position, and under such circumstances, the controls may be positioned adjacent the elevated platform on which the man in the elevated position works for operation of the hoist and first and second carriage means to accomplish the desired results.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for positioning heavy tubular members adjacent a drilling mast including:

a. a pair of spaced members for securing to and extending laterally from the drillingmast in a generally horizontal plane;

b. said members having surfaces thereon forming first track means;

0. first carriage means extending between said spaced member;

d. roller means mounted on and extending above said first carriage means for engaging with each of said first track means to suspend said first carriage means therefrom for movement toward and away from the drilling mast;

c. said first carriage means including a pair of spaced members having surfaces thereon forming second track means extending longitudinally of said first carriage means;

f. second carriage means extending substantially perpendicular to said first carriage means and extending toward the drilling mast and including roller means for engaging said second track means on said first carriage means to suspend said second carriage means therefrom for movement along said second track means laterally relative to said pair of spaced members which extend laterally from the mast;

g. hoisting means carried on said second carriage means at the end thereof nearest the drilling mast for connecting with tubular members to position them laterally from the drilling mast; and I 6 h. tubular racking means secured to the mast below on said first carriage means; and

said pair of spaced members and extending later- (1. means connecting said rotatable shaft means with ally from the mast in the same direction as said pair said sprocket means connected to said roller means of spaced members. for rotating said roller means to move along said 2. The invention of claim 1 including first power 5 first track means. means mounted on said first carriage means and means 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means conconnected with said first power means for moving said nected with said second power means on said second first carriage means along said pair of spaced members carriage means includes:

and second power means mounted on said second cara. shaft means extending parallel to the longitudinal riage means and means connected with said second 10 axis of said second carriage means and rotatably power means for moving said second carriage means supported thereon; along said first carriage means. b. means connecting said second power means to ro- 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means contate said shaft means; nected with said first power means on said first carriage c. sprocket means connected with said roller means means includes: on said second carriage means; and

a. shaft means extending longitudinally of said first d. means connecting said rotatable shaft means with carriage means and rotatably supported thereon; said sprocket means connected to said roller means b. means connecting said first power means to rotate for rotating said roller means to move along said said shaft means; second track means.

0. sprocket means connected with said roller means 

1. An arrangement for positioning heavy tubular members adjacent a drilling mast including: a. a pair of spaced members for securing to and extending laterally from the drilling mast in a generally horizontal plane; b. said members having surfaces thereon forming first track means; c. first carriage means extending between said spaced member; d. roller means mounted on and extending above said first carriage means for engaging with each of said first track means to suspend said first carriage means therefrom for movement toward and away from the drilling mast; e. said first carriage means including a pair of spaced members having surfaces thereon forming second track means extending longitudinally of said first carriage means; f. second carriage means extending substantially perpendicular to said first carriage means and extending toward the drilling mast and including roller means for engaging said second track means on said first carriage means to suspend said second carriage means therefrom for movement along said second track means laterally relative to said pair of spaced members which extend laterally from the mast; g. hoisting means carried on said second carriage means at the end thereof nearest the drilling mast for connecting with tubular members to position them laterally from the drilling mast; and h. tubular racking means secured to the mast below said pair of spaced members and extending laterally from the mast in the same direction as said pair of spaced members.
 2. The invention of claim 1 including first power means mounted on said first carriage means and means connected with said first power means for moving said first carriage means along said pair of spaced members and second power means mounted on said second carriage means and means connected with said second power means for moving said second carriage means along said first carriage means.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means connected with said first power means on said first carriage means includes: a. shaft means extending longitudinally of said first carriage means and rotatably supported thereon; b. means connecting said first power means to rotate said shaft means; c. sprocket means connected with said roller means on said first carriage means; and d. means connecting said rotatable shaft means with said sprocket means connected to said roller means for rotating said roller means to move along said first track means.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means connected with said second power means on said second carriage means includes: a. shaft means extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said second carriage means and rotatably supported thereon; b. means connecting said second power means to rotate said shaft means; c. sprocket means connected with said roller means on said second carriage means; and d. mEans connecting said rotatable shaft means with said sprocket means connected to said roller means for rotating said roller means to move along said second track means. 